Obesity remains a serious health problem and it is no secret that many people want to lose weight. Behavioral economists typically argue that “nudges” help individuals with various decisionmaking flaws to live longer, healthier, and better lives. In an article in the new issue of Regulation, Michael L. Marlow discusses how nudging by government differs from nudging by markets, and explains why market nudging is the more promising avenue for helping citizens to lose weight.

Two long wars, chronic deficits, the financial crisis, the costly drug war, the growth of executive power under Presidents Bush and Obama, and the revelations about NSA abuses, have given rise to a growing libertarian movement in our country – with a greater focus on individual liberty and less government power. David Boaz’s newly released The Libertarian Mind is a comprehensive guide to the history, philosophy, and growth of the libertarian movement, with incisive analyses of today’s most pressing issues and policies.

Cracking the Books

Washington

Note: Scores reflect the data provided on each state's education department website as of December 31, 2012. For more information, please see the Grading Criteria section.

Per Pupil Expenditures

Washington’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction provides more than ten years of Financial Reporting Summaries. The reports contain total per pupil expenditure data. Washington is missing the most recent year of per pupil expenditures. Washington provides a table that allows citizens to compare changes in per pupil expenditures over time (ten years at the state level and four years at the district level), though the figures are not adjusted for inflation.

Per Pupil Expenditures

Metric

Category

State

District

Score

Type of Per Pupil Expenditures

Total

Total

Credit

Full Credit

Full Credit

Years of Data

10+ years

10+ years

Score

10 / 10

10 / 10

20 / 20

Most Recent Year

2010-11

2010-11

Score

8 / 10

8 / 10

16 / 20

Historical Comparison

Included*

Included*

Score

1.5 / 2.5

1 / 2.5

2.5 / 5

Total

38.5 / 45

Total Expenditure Data

Washington provides more than ten years of total expenditure data. Actual capital expenditures are included at the state level, but district-level capital expenditures are given as a percentage of total expenditures only. Total salary expenditures, including benefits, are available at the summary level only. Washington is missing the most recent year of expenditures and fails to provide pension data.

Total Expenditure Data

Metric

Category

State

District

Score

Total Expenditures

Object / Summary

Object / Summary

Score

4 / 4

4 / 4

8 / 8

Capital Expenditures

Included

Percentage Only

Score

2 / 2

1 / 2

3 / 4

Total Salary Data

Summary with Benefits

Summary with Benefits

Score

1 / 2

1 / 2

2 / 4

Pension Data

None

None

Score

0 / 2

0 / 2

0 / 4

Years of Data

10+ years

10+ years

Score

2.5 / 2.5

2.5 / 2.5

5 / 5

Most Recent Year

2010-11

2010-11

Score

2 / 2.5

2 / 2.5

4 / 5

Total

22 / 30

Average Salary Data

Washington provides more than five years of average salary data for teachers, administrators, and non-teaching staff. Washington is missing average salary data for the most recent school year. Data on average employee benefits are provided.

Average Salary Data

Metric

Category

State

District

Score

Categories Covered

Teachers, administrators, and non-teaching staff

Teachers, administrators, and non-teaching staff

Score

1.5 / 1.5

1.5 / 1.5

3 / 3

Employee Benefits

Included

Included

Score

1 / 1

1 / 1

2 / 2

Years of Data

5+ years

5+ years

Score

1.25 / 1.25

1.25 / 1.25

2.5 / 2.5

Most Recent Year

2010-11

2010-11

Score

1 / 1.25

1 / 1.25

2 / 2.5

Total

9.5 / 10

Public Accessibility

Navigation: Washington’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction website is easy to navigate. The homepage contains a link to “Apportionment & Financial Services” page. On the left-side menu bar, the “Financial History Reports” option has a dropdown box containing a link to several years of the Financial History Summary reports.

Ease of Public Analysis: Washington’s financial data are provided in both Excel spreadsheets and PDF format.

Public Accessibility

Category

Metric

Score

Navigation

Full Credit: Very easy for a layperson to locate the desired data. All relevant data are in close proximity with a main menu that is clear and commonsensical.